Family History
Claudia led Desmond and Ace to the kitchen table to sit before going to the counter and taking out a pot to make some tea. She noticed Cloud look at them curiously before ducking his head away in embarrassment for being caught watching them. She smiled at how shy and adorable her kid could be when it came to others and turned to look at the two boys. She had a feeling her husband's family wouldn't be as normal as she thought. Claudia noticed that the younger one, Ace kept looking at the stairs, she guessed why he would. Young boys preferred being in the company of other young boys.
Claudia cleared her throat, "I'm making Pine top tea. I hope you don't mind, but we don't have normal tea available this far out."
Ace smiled adorably making Claudia's heart melt, "It's fine Auntie. It sounds really good to drink. I don't mind trying out new stuff, who knows we might end up liking it too."
Claudia bit back her coo and cleared her throat, "It is good for your health and a natural medicine."
Desmond bit back a laugh at the interaction. The former artifact now his brother was really selling the adorable nephew act quiet well, though he was not wrong. He looked at the stairs where the blonde boy from before was hiding and decided to call him over. He was their cousin so he had the right to know as well. Especially since they would be talking about Storm Miles too.
Desmond called, "Hello there ~ Why don't you come over here and join us? My name is Desmond Miles and this is my younger brother Ace Miles."
Ace smiled brightly at the blond boy, "Come join us."
Cloud who had been hiding came out and over to the table looking at him with curiosity, "Hi, I am Cloud... Are you really my cousins? Because it would be really nice and cool to have more family members. It's only been ma and I so far."
Desmond couldn't help but find the little blond guy adorable, he was probably no older than 10 or so, "Yes, I do believe we are cousins, little cousin. I am seventeen years old and my brother here is twelve years old."
Cloud looked up at him smiling, "You're both older than me. I'm turning eleven next month."
Ace brightened, "Really? That's cool. We have to get you a gift then."
Cloud "Eh? You don't have to."
Ace turned to Desmond looking determined, "We got to get a gift for him, Des."
Desmond nodded, "We missed ten years worth of birthdays, thanksgiving and Yule. So definitely getting you something."
Ace, "Don't worry, it won't be anything gaudy or ugly."
Cloud was flustered, "That's not what I mean. I mean, it's not a big deal."
Claudia smiled from the stove, 'It really would be nice to not be alone anymore.'
Desmond laughed, "We definitely have to have a party. We cannot go without one. Between the four of us, I am sure we can have fun."
Cloud flushed pink at the plans his cousins, he really truly hoped they were his cousins, were making, 'Is this how it feels like to have a big brother?'
The kettle meanwhile gave a sharp whistle signaling the tea was ready. Claudia took the pot off the stove and took out four ceramic cups and plates along with a tray to pour the tea. She served it to everyone with a cup of sugar. Ace in the meantime was taking out two packets containing salted and sugar biscuits from his bag. At this point, Desmond decided not to question what he did anymore and accepted the tea with some biscuits.
Claudia sat down on her chair, "Alright then, I believe you promised me an explanation."
Desmond put his cup down, he had gone through some of the things earlier before leaving the Inn and decided to take out the album in his bag, "As I have said earlier my father and your husband, Cloud's father are related to each other."
Desmond opened the old worn out album to a picture of his father and a man that was definitely Storm but during their younger years. They were standing together holding their graduation letters and smiling at the camera. He and Ace had pieced together the little tit bits of their life in this world while sleeping. Their counterpart's memories had come with a vengeance making them sleep in due to the headache.
Claudia looked at the picture and spoke with resignation, "You know, he never told me about his family. Always said it was too dangerous considering his work."
Desmond gave an exasperated yet understanding look, "Ah! Father never talked about Uncle much either. Only said his job was dangerous and he didn't approve of it. But at the end of the day it was Uncle's choice."
Claudia paused, "I see! He was smart to not tell you. Please don't ask me then for, I cannot tell you what my husband did either."
Desmond smiled, "I expected as much."
Cloud eyed the diploma his father was holding proudly in the picture, "Dad looks really happy."
Ace grinned at him, "He does, doesn't he?"
Desmond pointed to a different photo with a dark haired man and a brown haired woman, "This is a picture of my parents, my mom and dad, Mary and Jacob Miles, to be specific. My mom was killed during a monster attack when I was only two years old. My Dad took care of me for three years after mom died before he married my second mom, Rosalie Sinnah later Miles."
Desmond turned to another page, Cloud looked at the album with intense curiosity about his Dad's family. His Dad that he barely remembered at all. Looking at a picture of his Dad, he couldn't help but feel really ecstatic. Ace looked at Cloud's face before turning the album and taking out a single photo of Storm Miles.
Ace held it to a bewildered Cloud, "Here you go Cloud."
Cloud blinked, "Eh? What?"
Ace smiled, "Keep it ~ It's yours now."
Cloud's bewildered look turned into one of happiness, "Thank you, I'll keep it safe."
Claudia smiled sadly, she couldn't take any pictures of Storm before because of his work. So Cloud only had an idea and a faint recall of how his father looked. She was really happy her two nephews searched her out, though she was a little miffed she didn't know about them before.
Desmond smiled and continued looking at the red haired woman, "At first, I was honestly, a bit annoyed with my Dad for forgetting mom so easily, but as time passed, I started to love Rosalia as a mom. Then she gave me my baby brother here and I was just so excited."
Ace beamed at him, "You love me ~"
Desmond chuckled, "I used to be jealous of my classmates, you know? They would always brag about how cute and adorable their little siblings were or how nosy. Then, I became a big brother myself and would gush about Ace to others. I was happy... At least till that one day my Dad never returned from his business trip. Shinra said, 'It was a fatal accident.', that killed him."
Desmond's eyes became sad, "Rosa was not a weak woman, her mind was strong and stubborn, but her health was not that good either. When she heard of my Dad's passing she suffered from a stroke that she survived through sheer will but left her weak physically. She tried to take care of us and hold on till I at least finished my University and Ace finished his junior schooling. She passed away last year eight months ago."
Claudia listened to Desmond sympathetically, losing your loved ones was always hard. No matter what the reason was or who it was. Cloud had moved closer to Ace during the explanation, it had made Ace smile and Cloud took it as a win.
Ace grabbed Cloud, "Des, can we go out please? I want to see the rest of the house, especially the forest back there. It looks like a great place to hunt for treasure."
Desmond blinked, "Oh sure! If Aunt Claudia doesn't mind, of course."
Ace turned to their aunt, "Can we please Auntie? We won't go far."
Claudia looked at the old clock on the wall, "Well, just make sure you are in time for lunch two hours from now and you can."
Ace cheered before turning to Cloud, "Let's go Cloud, I want to see the forest behind your back yard."
Cloud smiled walking towards the door grabbing his knife, "Sure! Maybe we can catch some rabbits that we can have for dinner later on."
Desmond continued after the two boys left talking about what animals were available in the forest, "Six months ago, while we were going though some of the things that Dad had we found out about the album. Dad had told us about his brother once or twice but the album was the first time seeing our Uncle. According to a letter, Uncle had written Dad he was last situated in Nibelheim amd met someone he fell in love with. After that there was no more letters."
Claudia couldn't help but realise the similarities between the two brothers, "They were very secretive weren't they? You said, Shinra informed you of his passing? My husband worked for Shinra as well and he was killed in action."
Desmond frowned at that, "What was he working on that he couldn't tell Dad? My Dad was a normal employee but still... He was part of the same company."
Claudia sighed, "Who knows dear. That Company has it's dark secrets. I won't pry into it. I miss my husband and he left me clear warnings to be wary of them."
Claudia shook her head from the negative thoughts, "Anyway, I think I should get to making lunch for all four of us. It is already past noon."
Desmond, "All of us Aunt?"
Claudia nodded smiling, "Of course! You are my nephews. I'm not letting you eat outside. You're having food with us as long as you are here. And if you don't have a place to stay, I can clear out a room for you and your brother to share."
Desmond got up wanting to help prepare food, "Aunty, that's not necessary. We don't want to impose on you. Anyway we can stay at the inn till we get something more permanent."
Claudia huffed at that, "The Inn? Nonsense! I insist you stay here with us. It would make Cloud happy and it would be nice to know my nephews for once. I missed out on a lot of your life."
Desmond's eyes softened, "Alright Aunt, we will stay. Now you said something about making lunch. I will help you with it. I used to help mom all the time when she made food for us."
Claudia laughed delighted at that. She had not expected this sudden turn of events when she woke up today. After what happened at the bridge last month, she worried that Cloud would be friendless and shunned. Life was hard without her husband but now she had her nephews, living family members. She hoped, they would stay for a while, it would be nice to have a slightly larger family. She then guided Desmond to the kitchen and through the process of making the stew for lunch and prepared the bread for four of them. Today was a good day for them and she was happy.